Introduction
JR West is the regional railway operator in western Japan, connecting Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama, Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka.
Trains operated by JR West
JR West operates the Shinkansen high-speed railway service with trains running at a maximum speed of 240–320 km/h.
- - Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Fukuoka
- - Hokuriku Shinkansen between Joetsumyoko and Tsuruga
Shinkansen trains carry Green Cars with business class seats and Ordinary Cars with standard class seats distributed in Reserved and Non-reserved seats. In total, Shinkansen trains offer three passengers classes: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.
JR West also operates many intercity and regional lines with trains running on conventional rail at a maximum speed of 130-160 km/h.
Conventional rail services are classified depending on the stop pattern:
- - Limited Express is the fastest service stopping at major stations
- - Express is a semi-fast service stopping at major stations
- - Rapid is a fast service stopping at most stations
- - Local is a slow service stopping at all stations
When travelling on conventional rail, the standard ticket or the rail pass allows the passenger to access the platform and board Limited Express trains as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains.
On Limited Express trains, passengers can travel on Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat. In case of travelling on Reserved Seat, passengers are required an extra ticket for the Reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the standard ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Japan.
Routes
Travel with ticket
We facilitate advance ticket booking for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR West.
Sanyo Shinkansen serving Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka
| Stations | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA | MIZUHO | SAKURA |
| Shin-Osaka | |||||
| Shin-Kobe | |||||
| Nishi-Akashi | — | — | |||
| Himeji | |||||
| Aioi | — | — | — | ||
| Okayama | |||||
| Shin-Kurashiki | — | — | — | ||
| Fukuyama | — | ||||
| Shin-Onomichi | — | — | — | ||
| Mihara | — | — | — | ||
| Higashi-Hiroshima | — | — | — | ||
| Hiroshima | |||||
| Shin-Iwakuni | — | — | — | ||
| Tokuyama | — | ||||
| Shin-Yamaguchi | — | ||||
| Asa | — | — | — | — | |
| Shin-Shimonoseki | — | — | |||
| Kokura | |||||
| Hakata |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Thunderbird Limited Express serving Osaka, Kyoto and Tsuruga
| Stations | THUNDERBIRD |
| Osaka | |
| Shin-Osaka | |
| Takatsuki | |
| Kyoto | |
| Katata | |
| Omi-Imazu | |
| Tsuruga |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | HARUKA |
| Kansai Airport | |
| Hineno | |
| Izumi-Fuchu | |
| Tennoji | |
| Osaka | |
| Shin-Osaka | |
| Takatsuki | |
| Kyoto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Miyakoji Rapid | Rapid | Regional Rapid | Local |
| Kyoto | ||||
| Tofukuji | ||||
| Inari | — | — | ||
| Fujinomori | — | — | — | |
| Momoyama | — | — | — | |
| Rokujizo | ||||
| Kohata | — | — | — | |
| Obaku | — | — | — | |
| Uji | ||||
| Ogura | — | |||
| Shinden | — | |||
| Joyo | ||||
| Nagaike | — | — | ||
| Yamashiro-Aodani | — | — | ||
| Yamashiro-Taga | — | — | ||
| Tamamizu | ||||
| Tanakura | — | — | ||
| Kamikoma | — | — | ||
| Kizu | ||||
| Narayama | — | — | ||
| Nara |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Yamatoji Rapid | Rapid | Direct Rapid | Regional Rapid |
| Osaka | ||||
| Namba | ||||
| Imamiya | — | — | ||
| Shin-Imamiya | ||||
| Tennoji | ||||
| Kyuhoji | ||||
| Oji | ||||
| Horyuji | ||||
| Yamato-Koizumi | ||||
| Koriyama | ||||
| Nara | ||||
| Narayama | ||||
| Kizu | ||||
| Kamo |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Kishuji Rapid | Local |
| Osaka | ||
| Imamiya | ||
| Tennoji | ||
| Bishoen | — | |
| Minabe-Tanabe | — | |
| Tsurugaoka | — | |
| Nagai | — | |
| Abikocho | — | |
| Sugimotocho | — | |
| Asaka | — | |
| Sakaishi | ||
| Mikunigaoka | ||
| Mozu | — | |
| Uenoshiba | — | |
| Tsukuno | — | |
| Otori | ||
| Tonoki | — | |
| Kita-Shinoda | — | |
| Shinodayama | — | |
| Izumi-Fuchu | ||
| Kumeda | — | |
| Shimomatsu | — | |
| Higahi-Kishiwada | ||
| Higahi-Kaizuka | — | |
| Izumi-Hashimoto | — | |
| Higashi-Sano | — | |
| Kumatori | ||
| Hineno | ||
| Nagataki | ||
| Shinge | ||
| Izumi-Sunagawa | ||
| Izumi-Tottori | ||
| Yamanakadani | ||
| Kii | ||
| Musota | ||
| Kii-Nakanoshima | ||
| Wakayama |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Special Rapid | Rapid |
| Osaka | ||
| Amagasaki | ||
| Nishinomiya | — | |
| Ashiya | ||
| Sumiyoshi | — | |
| Rokkomichi | — | |
| Sannomiya | ||
| Motomachi | — | |
| Kobe | ||
| Hyogo | — | |
| Akashi | ||
| Nishi-Akashi | ||
| Kakogawa | ||
| Himeji |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Travel with rail pass
We facilitate the purchase of different rail pass with JR West valid for unlimited travel between Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama, Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka in western Japan.
Travellers with JR West Kansai Area Pass (1-day), JR West Kansai Area Pass (2-day), JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass (5-day), JR West Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (5-day), JR West Okayama-Yamaguchi Area Pass (5-day), JR West Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass (5-day), JR West Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass (7-day), JR West Sanyo-San'in Area Pass (7-day) and JR West All Area Pass (7-day) can travel on Express, Rapid and Local trains with Non-reserved seats. Passengers can also travel on Limited Express trains with Non-reserved seat or travel on Reserved Seat by receiving a Reserved Seat ticket before boarding, as this is included in the rail pass.
Kansai Area Pass (1,2,3,4-day)
Passengers can travel on Limited Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days as well as Kyoto Subway for 1 day.
Kansai WIDE Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Okayama-Yamaguchi Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Sanyo-San'in Area Pass (7-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 7 consecutive days.
Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass (7-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 7 consecutive days.
All Area Pass (7-day)
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 7 consecutive days.
Destinations
JR West serves the following destinations in Japan:
Chubu region
Chubu region comprises Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama, Nagano and Niigata prefectures. This region is served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR West.
Train routes to Kanazawa
Kansai region
Kansai region comprises Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR West.
Train routes to Kyoto
Train routes to Uji
Train routes to Osaka
Train routes to Nara
Train routes to Wakayama
Train routes to Shingu
Train routes to Kobe
Train routes to Himeji
Chugoku region
Chugoku region comprises Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Shimane and Tottori prefectures. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR West.
Train routes to Okayama
Train routes to Hiroshima
Train routes to Yamaguchi
Kyushu island
Kyushu island is the third largest of Japan's five main islands. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen trains operated by JR West.
Train routes to Fukuoka
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| JR West | Change time/date |
| Fare Green car seat (Sanyo) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Sanyo) | Permitted |
| Fare Discount ticket (Shinkansen) | Permitted |
| Fare Discount ticket (Haruka) | Permitted |
| Fare Discount ticket (Thunderbird) | Permitted |
| Fare JR WEST All Area Pass (7-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai Pass (1-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai Pass (2-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai Pass (3-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai Pass (4-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai WIDE Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai-Hiroshima Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Kansai-Hokuriku Pass (7-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Sanyo-San'in Pass (7-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Okayama-Yamaguchi Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
In accordance with the policy of JR West, once issued the exchange order (E-TICKET) can be exchanged within 90 days.
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| JR West | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare Green car seat (Sanyo) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Sanyo) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Discount ticket (Shinkansen) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Discount ticket (Haruka) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Discount ticket (Thunderbird) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare JR WEST All Area Pass (7-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai Pass (1-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai Pass (2-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai Pass (3-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai Pass (4-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai WIDE Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai-Hiroshima Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Kansai-Hokuriku Pass (7-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Sanyo-San'in Pass (7-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Okayama-Yamaguchi Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your discount ticket / rail pass with JR West, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 1 day before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 200 JPY per ticket if the exchange order (E-TICKET) has not been exchanged
- 10% of the ticket fare + 200 JPY per ticket if the exchange order (E-TICKET) has been exchanged but the discount ticket / rail pass has not been used
- No refund if the discount ticket / rail pass has been used, expired, lost or stolen